Students sign banner as pledge to stop bullies

Eastwood Middle, UA students join forces in campaign

Seventh- and eighth-graders at Eastwood Middle School hang a banner with over 600 signatures from students pledging to stand up against bullying Monday. Monday was officially named Alabama "Stand Strong Day." Eastwood middle school students have been working with a group of University of Alabama students from the Public Relations Students Society of America during the month of February to re-energize a campaign against bullying through the HALT program. HALT stands for Harassment Awareness Learning Together. The students hanging the banner are core HALT leaders.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 11:38 p.m.

COTTONDALE | Students at Eastwood Middle School and the University of Alabama united Monday to mark “Stand Strong Day” as part of an effort to stop bullying.

“We're trying to tell students that they're not alone and that they can sit down with someone being bullied and tell them that they're there for them,” said Benjamin Ladrillono, a 21-year-old junior at UA majoring in public relations.

Ladrillono is a member of UA's Bateman Team, a group of PR majors who launched the monthlong anti-bullying campaign within the Tuscaloosa City School System's middle schools at the beginning of February.

The Tuscaloosa campaign is part of a nationwide anti-bullying PR competition.

One of the team's achievements was persuading Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox to officially declare Monday as “Stand Strong Day.”

The team has also focused on persuading middle school students to increase how often they report bullying. One of the team's goals is to help students understand that they can stop bullying by sticking together.

“We've been doing events once a week in the middle schools to build positive leadership amongst the students, be role models for them,” Ladrillono said

He said the Bateman Team chose to launch the campaign in the city school system because it has the HALT (Harassment Awareness Learning Together) program. HALT is comprised of monthly events, surveys and a curriculum on bullying prevention.

Deanna Hall, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Eastwood, said she's learned a lot about bullying in the last month.

“I like it, and think it's a better way to help students stay strong, make friends and face their fears,” said “This month we've learned to stop bullying by first trying to talk to people and ask how they feel around people.”

<p>COTTONDALE | Students at Eastwood Middle School and the University of Alabama united Monday to mark “Stand Strong Day” as part of an effort to stop bullying.</p><p>“We're trying to tell students that they're not alone and that they can sit down with someone being bullied and tell them that they're there for them,” said Benjamin Ladrillono, a 21-year-old junior at UA majoring in public relations.</p><p>Ladrillono is a member of UA's Bateman Team, a group of PR majors who launched the monthlong anti-bullying campaign within the Tuscaloosa City School System's middle schools at the beginning of February.</p><p> The Tuscaloosa campaign is part of a nationwide anti-bullying PR competition. </p><p>One of the team's achievements was persuading Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox to officially declare Monday as “Stand Strong Day.”</p><p>The team has also focused on persuading middle school students to increase how often they report bullying. One of the team's goals is to help students understand that they can stop bullying by sticking together.</p><p>“We've been doing events once a week in the middle schools to build positive leadership amongst the students, be role models for them,” Ladrillono said</p><p>He said the Bateman Team chose to launch the campaign in the city school system because it has the HALT (Harassment Awareness Learning Together) program. HALT is comprised of monthly events, surveys and a curriculum on bullying prevention.</p><p>Deanna Hall, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Eastwood, said she's learned a lot about bullying in the last month.</p><p>“I like it, and think it's a better way to help students stay strong, make friends and face their fears,” said “This month we've learned to stop bullying by first trying to talk to people and ask how they feel around people.”</p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>